Watch: Philippine civilian group defies Chinese presence to provide aid to fishermen in South China Sea

Despite being followed by Chinese vessels, a Philippine group spearheading a civilian supply operation in the South China Sea provided fuel and food to Filipino fishermen, officials said on Thursday (May 16), describing it as a "major victory".

The Atin Ito (This is Ours) organisation deployed a 10-person crew to the Scarborough Shoal a day before a commercial flotilla of five commercial vessels and 100 small fishing boats set off on May 15. The rest of the fleet eventually turned back before reaching the shoal.

"The mission achieved a major victory when its advance team reached the vicinity of Panatag Shoal on May 15 (and) was able to supply the fishers in the area," Emman Hizon, Atin Ito spokesperson told Reuters.

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Located inside Manila's 200 nautical-mile (370km) exclusive economic zone, the Scarborough Shoal is coveted for its bountiful fish stock and a turquoise lagoon that provides a safe haven for vessels during storms.

Despite a 2016 decision by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration finding its broad claims had no legal foundation, China maintains sovereignty over the shoal and nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The Chinese coast guard "intensified on-site surveillance and evidence collection" on Thursday, according to China's official news agency Xinhua, following Philippine vessels that "illegally gathered" in seas close to Scarborough Shoal and participated in actions "unrelated to normal fishing operations".

It further stated that the Philippine vessels at the site had been "regulated in accordance with the law" by the Chinese Coast Guard.

The Philippine warships "stopped moving forward at nearly 60 nautical miles in the waters east of Huangyan Island and has now departed," according to Yuyuan Tantian, a social media user connected to Chinese official broadcaster CCTV, who called the mission a "publicity stunt".

The advance squad, according to Hizon, was part of the group's backup plan in case China cut off the main flotilla. He stated that the flotilla would return to port on Thursday after reaching a location around fifty nautical miles away from the shoal.

The fishermen, who had previously been provided by the advance team, had departed the region after being chased away by Chinese vessels, according to Hizon, thus the bigger flotilla was unnecessary.

On Wednesday, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft that was sent to Scarborough Shoal to keep an eye on the situation noticed 19 Chinese vessels—including one Chinese naval ship—in the vicinity. Additionally, the PCG said that it was keeping an eye on two floating obstacles near the shoal's southeast entrance.

While not participating in the expedition, the PCG sent out vessels to ensure the protection and safety of the volunteer civilians. According to the PCG, two Chinese Coast Guard vessels followed the Atin Ito boats.

(With inputs from agencies)